| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and responsive to moving baits, particularly following schools of yellow perch
| - River channels with adjacent transition areas to spawning flats
- Rocky points and steep breaks near potential spawning bays
- Deep grass lines at 19-23 feet serving as staging areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
- Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges
- Tubes dragged on rocky transition areas
| - Yellow Perch
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Trout | 45-55 | - Actively feeding in pre-spawn phase, moving from winter depths to shallower transitional areas
- Most active during dawn and dusk, showing increased shallow water presence during overcast conditions
- Targeting insect hatches and small baitfish in preparation for spawning activity
| - Rocky points and rip rap areas warming first in spring
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
- Steep shoreline breaks adjacent to spawning areas
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly through transitional depths
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieve
- Live Bait Rigs near structure and thermal edges
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small yellow perch
- Smaller baitfish gathering in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and moving into shallower water, particularly around docks and other structure that provides cover and warmth
| - Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially the shallow ends
- Points and inside turns with submerged vegetation near spawning areas
- Protected coves with matted grass providing warming pockets
| - Wacky Rigs worked with slow drops and subtle taps around dock edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around matted grass and dock posts
- Shakey Heads worked slowly along points and transitions
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow warming areas
- Small baitfish moving into the shallows with warming water
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn males actively scouting and preparing nests in shallow rocky areas, while females stage in deeper adjacent areas
- Fish becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, defending territory and responding to sight-based feeding opportunities
- Daily movement patterns between staging areas and spawning flats based on sunlight and temperature changes
| - Rocky points and gravel flats in 2-8 foot depth range for spawning activity
- Adjacent deeper breaks in 15-25 foot range where females stage
- Protected bays and coves with hard bottom composition
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas and potential spawning flats
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentation to spooky shallow fish
- Drop Shot targeting deeper staging areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small yellow perch
- Young of year bluegill in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Trout | 45-58 | - Trout are actively seeking shallow, gravelly areas with good oxygen flow for spawning, particularly during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish are staging near spawning areas, moving between shallow spawning zones and slightly deeper recovery areas
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish targeting both insects and small baitfish near vegetation and rocky structure
| - Shallow, gravelly areas near points and rip-rap for spawning activity
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water (8-15 feet)
- Submerged vegetation edges near spawning areas providing cover and feeding zones
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly near spawning areas and transition zones
- Live Bait Rigs with minimal weight for natural presentation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to spawning areas
| - Aquatic insects emerging in spring warming trends
- Small yellow perch in vegetated areas
- Minnows and small baitfish gathering near spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and bays with firm bottom
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby drop-offs
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around spawning sites
| - Protected shallow bays with matted grass and submerged vegetation
- Dock areas providing shade and structure in 2-6 foot depths
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and vegetation
- Wacky Rigs near docks and sparse vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along grass lines and points
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish are actively recovering from spawn, transitioning from shallow nesting areas to nearby deeper structure
- Feeding activity is increasing as fish replenish energy, with aggressive responses to prey around key structure
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 15-25 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep weed edges at 19-23 feet, especially near points and breaks
- Protected bays and coves with access to deeper water
| - Drop Shot worked methodically along deep weed edges and rock transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged slowly across rock piles and boulder fields
- Tubes hopped along bottom structure, especially in rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Small yellow perch around weed edges
- Juvenile bluegills in protected bays
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Trout | 48-58 | - Post-spawn trout are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly during early morning and evening hours when light levels are lower
- Fish are transitioning between shallow and mid-depth zones as they follow preferred temperature ranges and forage
- Showing increased response to insect hatches and smaller prey items near vegetation and rocky structure
| - Rocky points and rip rap areas where insects and smaller prey concentrate
- Edges of weed beds in 8-15 foot depths providing ambush points
- Protected coves with stable temperatures and abundant forage
| - Inline Spinners worked at varying speeds near structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking young perch
- Live Bait Rigs with insects or small minnows
| - Aquatic insects emerging in spring
- Young yellow perch
- Small baitfish near vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer locations
- Fish are utilizing grass lines and dock edges as primary feeding zones, particularly during morning and evening hours
| - Grass lines in 15-20 foot depth range, especially where they intersect with points or docks
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation near deeper water
- Dock areas with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Spinnerbaits worked along grass edges and through scattered vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through vegetation and under docks
- Wacky Rigs around dock posts and visible cover
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow vegetation and around docks
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to school in vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
